Receiving device for remote-control installations



H. TOBLER sept. 25, 1951 RECEIVING DEVICE FOR REMOTE CONTROL .INSTALLATIONS Filed Feb. 5, 1948 Patented Sept. 25, 1951 RECEIVING DEVICE FOR REMOTE-CONTROL INSTALLATIONS Hans Tobler, Zurich, Switzerland, assignor to Landis & Gyr, A. G., a body corporate of Switzerland Application February 5, 1948, Serial N0. 6,543 In Switzerland December 10, 1946 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires December 10, 1966 Claims. 1

The invention relates to a novel and improved receiving device for remote control installations, more particularly for central remote control systems operating on the synchronous selector principle, with a resonant receiving circuit tuned to an audio-frequency.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, con structions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles.

of the invention.

The single figure of the drawing schematically illustrates a typical and preferred form of a receiving device embodying the present invention.

In one receiving device of this type heretofore known, the circuit of a synchronous motor is closed after the reception of a starting impulse by a receiving relay, and causes a rotating contact arm to slide along a circular convtact path, switching itself off automatically on the completion of a complete rotation of the contact arm. While the rotary contact arm is turning, control impulses are sent out, which are so timed that they only become effective in the receiver when the rotating contact arm is over the corresponding path contacts. Trigger relays are connected to the latter and may be switched on and off by the received control impulses. This known devicehas the disadvantage that a special trigger relay is required for every double control, and in the case of a large number of double controls, the device is unduly large.

Invanother known receiving device the rotating contact arm is replaced by a switch arm, which is capable of actuating pairs of contactor switches, in such a manner that the contactors are, for instance, switched off when the switch lever rotates in an upper plane and are switched on when it rotates in a lower plane. 1f, after the starting impulse, no control impulses are received, the switch arm completes its rotation in the upper plane only, and disconnects all the contactors if they are not already disconnected. If, on the other hand, a control impulse is received, the switch arm drops temporarily into 2 the lower plane and switches on the contactor in question. disadvantage that a separate relay must be provided for the axial motion of the shaft bearing the switch arm.

Furthermore, receiving devices are known where a shaft carrying a switch arm and drivenby a synchronous motor periodically transmits impulses during a rotation, the position of a catch being controlled by a receiver resonating relay, the impulses being used for actuating switching devices by means of the switch arm. However, only a relatively small portion of the complete rotation of the shaft is available for actuating the switches, since in a rotation of this kind some fifty controls are to be transmitted in all. Receiving devices of the latter type have the disadvantage that only relatively small switches can be actuated by the usual dimensions of the synchronous motor.

Receiving devices have therefore been devised in which part of the rotation of the shaft carrying the switch arm is used for winding an energy storage spring. The impulses cause this spring to be released, while the actual switching operation is performed by the energy storage spring. By this means it is possible to actuate heavy switches. A disadvantage of these well known devices is that part of the rotation of the control shaftl is wasted for transmitting controls, and that the force available in practice for operating the switches is always relatively small.

The receiving unit according to the invention avoids these disadvantages in that at least one energy storage spring, which is released for actuating each switching device, is stressed during the complete rotation of a control shaft every time the receiver is put into operation.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a novel and improved receiving unit which is simple, compact, positive in operation, of relatively low cost construction and avoids defects of the prior constructions. A further object is the provision of such a device which is capable of actuating relatively heavy single or multiple-pole switches in a positive manner and with a relatively small amount of controlling power and a minimum of complexity in the receiving apparatus.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment of the invention as shown in the draw- This latter device possesses the ing, c and b denote two conductors of a low voltage A. C. network (such as 110 volts, 60 cycle) onto which audio-frequency control voltages can be superposed. Between the conductors a, b there is connected in series a resonant circuit, consisting of a capacitance l and an inductance, such as the coil winding 2. The latter` is formed as a resonant relay winding and together with the capacitance I is tuned to the transmitting frequency. In addition to conventional components not shown in the drawing, such as the iron core, bearings etc., the resonant relay has a rotatable armature 3, which may turn in the direction of the arrow when the resonant relay is excited. On the spindle 4 of the rotating armature 3 are mounted two cams 5 and 6, the former serving to operate a switch or contactor l, 8, and the latter adapted to raise a release lever 9 to rotate about its axis I0, Il. The contactor l, 8 is connected in series with a synchronous motor I 2 across the mains a, b. The motor drives a control shaft l in an anti-clockwise direction through a pinion 3 and gearwheel I4, and cam shaft i3 through gear-wheels i6, Il, I8. On the control shaft l5 there are provided an on control wheel 2D, an oif control wheel 2l and a cam wheel 22 with a notch 23 for actuating the contactor l, 8. Control wheels 2li, 2l are carried on the control shaft l5 so that they can easily be angularly moved for adjustment and xed in the desired position. Control wheels 26, ZI moreover each have a notch, 24 and 25 respectively, into which projections 26 and 2l on the two control levers can drop. The control discs are preferably indexed so they can be set to a fixed mark. The control levers are formed as leaf springs 3U, 3| mounted at one end, and the projections 26, 2l have on the left-hand side upwardly directed arms 28, 29, extending into the path of movement of the release lever 9. Leaf springs 30 and 3| also each have a projection, 32, 33 respectively, directed downwards, coacting with a fourarmed on cam 34 and with a four-armed off cam 35 respectively to form an escapement. These two cams are arranged at a definite angle relatively to one another, and for instance, when the upper arm of the cam 34 has been released by the projection 32, the upper arm of the cam 35 is still held by the projection 33. A switch cam 35 is interposed between the cams 34, 35, and is likewise provided with four arms to work in conjunction with the lower contact spring extended to the right of a contactor 3l. The three cams 34 to 35 are xed in respect of each other, either being made integral or rigidly connected together in the relative positions shown. Cam unit 34, 35, 36 is loosely supported on the shaft I9. The transmission of the rotary motion of the shaft I9 to the cam unit takes place through an energy storing spring 38. At one side, the rear end of the latter bears against a sleeve rigidly connected to the gear-wheel I8, and extending so far as the rear side of the cam 34; in addition to transmitting the rotary motion by using the friction between the sleeve and the energy storing spring, this also serves to maintain the correct distance between the gear wheel i8 and the cam unit, since it lies against the hub of the cam unit, which is formed with a cylindrical cavity in the body of the cam, which serves for the reception of the energy storing spring. In the interior of the body of the hub, the energy storing spring presses against the outer cylindrical wall of the cylindrical cavity.

In front the axial position of the cam unit can be fixed by a collar 39 xed on the shaft I9.

At the end of the starting impulse, the bent end of the spring contact member 8 rides on the surface of the cam disc 22 and cannot drop into the notch 23 until cam 22 has made a full revolution. Consequently contacts l and 8 are maintained closed for a predetermined period after the impulse has ceased. A complete rotation of the cam disc 22 is required to break the circuit at the contacts 1 and 8, and a short starting impulse will always positively start -a complete rotation of the control shaft l5.

At the same time that cam 5 closes contacts l and 8, cam 6 lifts the release lever 9, but this lifting has no effect on the levers 30 and 3| as these levers are held in place by the projections 25 and 2l which press against the surface of the control wheels 20, 2|. Synchronous operation of the transmitter and receiver insure that the control impulses for actuating the contactor 3l are sent out during the rotation of the control shaft l5, and at times when the corresponding notches 24 and 25 in the control wheels 20 and 2i are exactly opposite the projections 26 and 2l of the control levers 30, 3l. If no control impulses occur during the revolution of the shaft i5 projections 26 and 2l tend to drop into the notches 24 and 25 of the control Wheels 26 and 2l, but are prevented from doing so to any considerable extent by means of the upwardly extending arms 28 and 29 which rest against the release lever 9 and are thereby blocked against further movement. On the other hand if a control impulse reaching the receiver and actuating the relay armature 3 is properly timed, cam 6 lifts the release lever 9 at the moment when notch 25 is opposite the projection 2l or notch 24 is opposite the projection 26, thereby allowing the lever 30 or 3l to be actuated. The raising of leaf spring lever 3l when an impulse actuating the relay 2, 3 causes the release lever 9 to be lifted when notch 25 is opposite the projection 21 lifts detent 33 far enough to clear the upper arm of cam 35 thereby freeing cam 35 and the cams 34 and 36 fixed to it. When cam 35 is freed, the loaded energy storing spring 38 drives the cam unit in a counter-clockwise dlrection until one of the arms of cam 34 strikes against stop 32 depending from the leaf spring lever 30 thereby resulting in almost a 90 revolution of the cams 34, 35 and 36. During this rotation of the switch cam 36, its arm engages the forwardly extending end of the lower contact spring of the contactor 31 causing the contactor to open.

When the contactor 3l is to be closed again, the resonant relay 2, 3 in the receiver must be again excited and this excitation must occur when the notch 24 of the control disc 20 is in a position to receive the projection 25 on the spring lever 30. At this time the excitation of the relay causes the release lever S to be lifted so that projection 26 can drop into the notch 24, thereby causing the stop 32 to be lifted out of the path of the arm of cam 34 which it is holding against rotation. This action frees the cam unit to turn until an arm of cam 35 engages the stop 33 thereby stopping the cam unit in the position shown and with the contactor 31 in closed position as the arm of switch cam 3B has slid oil the front end of the contact spring of contactor 3! to close the contactor circuit.

In closing the contactor the cam unit carries out only a small rotational movement corresponding to the angle of displacement between the adjacent arms of cams 34 and 35, while the cam unit carries out a much greater rotational movement to open contacter 31 and more energy is available for the opening movement than ior the closing movement so as to overcome the strength of the spring member of contacter 3l.

Energy storing spring 38 is energized or loaded each actuation until it begins to slip by rotation of the shaft I9 which is driven from the synchronous motor I2 through gearing I3, i4, I3, I1 and I8. As soon as one of the arms of cams 34 or 35 strikes the corresponding projection 32 or 33, the energy storing spring 38 is partially loaded, and is increasingly loaded by the continued rotation of the shaft I9. Thus practically the complete time corresponding to a full revolution of the control shaft I5 is available for the loading of the energy storing spring 38 so that a relatively small synchronous motor I2 may load a very powerful storage spring 38 and provide sufficient force to actuate relatively heavy single or multiple pole contactors.

The apparatus shown in the drawings may be extended to actuate a plurality of contacter units each of which would include a separate cam unit 34, 35, 36, a separate energy storage spring 33, control levers 30 and 3l and control wheels 2D and 2I, all subject to the same resonant relay 2, 3 and driven from the same synchronous motor I2 under control of the cam disc 22.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

l. A receiving device for remote control instali lations including in combination a relay, a synchronous motor, control discs driven by the motor and having notches on their peripheries, a switch, a plurality of control levers abutting the peripheries of said control discs and normally restrained from following said discs at the notches of the discs, cam means normally restrained by said control levers and operative when said levers follow the notches on said discs to open or close said switch, and detent means actuated by the relay for preventing said levers from following said disc notches except when the relay is actuated.

2. A receiving device as claimed in claim 1, in which a spring wound by the synchronous motor rotates said cam means upon their release by the control levers to open or close said switch.

3. A receiving device as claimed in claim 2 in which the relay controls a second switch permitting the synchronous motor to be energized for a complete cycle of operation.

4. A receiving device for remote control installation including in combination a relay, a synchronous motor, a pair of control discs geared to the motor and having notches on their peripheries, a pair of control levers selectively movable into a notch in the corresponding control disc, an escapement controlling a switch and controlled by said control levers and discs, detent means actuated by said relay preventing movement of either control lever into a control disc notch except on simultaneous actuation of said relay, and a switch actuated by said relay and controlling said motor for energizing said motor for a full cycle of operation.

5. A receiving device as claimed in claim i in which the motor winds a spring which energizes the actuation of the escapement controlled switch.

6. A receiving device as claimed in claim 4 in which the control discs are adjustable to vary the angular relation of their control notches.

7. A receiving device as claimed in claim 6 in which one control disc controls the closing and another controls the opening of the escapement controlled switch.

8. A receiving device as claimed in claim 7 in which the motor winds a spring to energize the opening and closing of the escapement controlled switch.

9. A receiving device as claimed in claim 8 in which a cam disc driven by the motor maintains the motor switch closed until the cycle of operation has been completed.

10. A receiving device for remote control installations including in combination a relay, a pair of cams controlled by the relay, a motor, a switch controlled by one cam for supplying power to the motor, a shaft driven by the motor and driving a control disc for keeping the switch closed until the shaft has completed one revolution, a second switch, an escapement controlling said switch and including two members, one for releasing the escapement to open, and the other for closing said second switch, a spring wound by said motor for actuating said second switch under control of the escapement, a pair of rotary control discs co-operating with said members and driven in timed relation by said motor whereby said escapement members are selectively controlled and released only at a predetermined point in the rotation of said control discs, and means actuated by the other of the rst pair of cams for preventing release 0f the escapement except when the relay is actuated in proper timed relation with the release of a selected escapement member and the spring is wound on such actuation of the relay.

HANS TOBLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,888,904 Brauer Nov. 22, 1932 1,972,501 Trogner Sept. 4, 1934 2,101,269 Pudelko Dec. 7, 1937 2,295,025 Bowsher Sept. 8, 1942 

